Predicting neck injuries due to head-supported mass.

BACKGROUND: Technological advances in military equipment have resulted in more devices being mounted on the helmet to enhance the capability of the soldier. The soldier's neck must bear this head-supported mass (HSM) and the resulting dynamic characteristics of the head and neck system are changed. The purpose of this study was to vary the conditions of impact as well as the design criteria to quantify the effect of HSM on neck injury risk through computational modeling. METHODS: The TNO MADYMO detailed neck model was used for a matrix of 196 simulations designed to vary the impact conditions and HSM properties added to the model. These parameters included seven impact directions, three impact magnitudes, nine mass locations, and three mass magnitudes. The data collected from these simulations were evaluated for injury risk using the lower neck beam criterion equation. RESULTS: The results from these simulations provide detailed information regarding the risk of injury based on a particular HSM configuration and the acceleration of the body. The predominant factor in increasing risk in the lower neck is the increase in pulse magnitude. The effect of pulse magnitude is more dominant in the directions that create a flexion or lateral bending moment. CONCLUSION: HSM increases the level of injury, but the impact level that the subject is exposed to is a more dominating factor in determining injury risk.

Sexual assault and posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of the biological, psychological and sociological factors and treatments.

Sexual assault occurs with alarming frequency in Canada. The prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in assault survivors is drastically higher than the national prevalence of the disorder, which is a strong indication that the current therapies for sexual-assault-related PTSD are in need of improvement. Increasing knowledge and understanding of the pathologies associated with rape trauma in biological, psychological and sociological domains will help to develop more effective treatments for survivors. A dysregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is observed in survivors of sexual assault and this may be a fundamental cause of the structural and functional abnormalities contributing to PTSD symptoms. Pharmacotherapies are available to treat PTSD; however, they are often inadequate or unwanted by the survivor. Psychological health is compromised following interpersonal trauma and many psychological therapies are available, but with varying efficacy. A person's cognitions have a dramatic effect on the onset, severity, and progress of PTSD following sexual assault. Sociological impacts of assault influence the development of PTSD through victim-blaming attitudes and the perpetuation of rape myths. Perceived positive regard and early social support is shown to be important to successful recovery. Education is vital in rape prevention and to foster a supportive environment for survivors. The biological, psychological and sociological impacts and treatments should not remain mutually exclusive. A better appreciation of the biopsychosocial repercussions of sexual assault will aid in developing a more holistic and individualized therapy to help alleviate the physical and emotional pain following the trauma of rape.